Australia Proposes a Ban on Broadcast Political Advertising

IN a controversial move, Prime Minister Bob Hawke is proposing to
ban all political advertisements on television or radio. The ban
would include third parties, such as business groups and
environmentalists, who take sides on political issues.

In announcing the move last week, the Labor government claimed
the ad ban is essential to prevent "corruption" as political parties
scramble to raise money to buy air time.

"Clearly a situation has arisen in the United States where large
lobby groups are outright buying support for their particular
interests," says Sen. Nick Bolkus, the minister for administrative
services. Senator Bolkus is unable to name an instance of similar
corruption in Australian federal elections.

The opposition Australian Liberal Party maintains the move
reflects Labor's paucity of cash.

"The Labor Party is heavily in debt from the last election and
knows, with its present low level of support from business and the
community, that it will not have enough money to fight the next,"
says John Hewson, leader of the Liberal opposition.

The proposed legislation follows a study by a parliamentary
committee, which reported that spending on broadcast advertising
rose 109 percent between the 1984 and 1987 elections. At the same
time, public campaign funding rose 32 percent. …

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